Anthurium plant named ‘Pink Giant’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named ‘Pink Giant’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; large durable dark green leaves; large pink-colored spathes with lighter pink-colored spadices that are positioned above and beyond the foliage on strong and erect scapes; freely flowering habit; and good inflorescence longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Botanical classification: Anthurium andreanum.

Variety denomination: ‘Pink Giant’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAnthurium plant, botanically known as Anthurium andreanum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pink Giant’.

The new Anthurium is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new freely clumping and freelyflowering Anthurium cultivars with strong roots, dark green leaves,attractive spathe color, and good inflorescence longevity.

The new Anthurium originated from a cross by the Inventor on or aboutJun. 24, 1997 of the Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanumselection code number 92-2 as the female, or seed, parent with theInventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection code number 93-03as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Pink Giant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands in1998.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by meristem culture in alaboratory in Belgium has shown that the unique features of this newAnthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Anthurium has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the cultivar Pink Giant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pink Giant’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely clumping growth habit.

3. Large durable dark green leaves.

4. Large pink-colored spathes with light pink-colored spadices that arepositioned above and beyond the foliage on strong and erect scapes.

5. Freely flowering habit.

6. Good inflorescence longevity.

Plants of the new Anthurium can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the selection 92-2. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differed fromplants of the selection 92-2 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium had broader leaves than plants of theselection 92-2.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium had larger and broader spathes thanplants of the selection 92-2.

3. Plants of the new Anthuriums and plants of the selection 92-2differed in spathe color.

Plants of the new Anthurium can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the selection 93-03. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differed fromplants of the selection 93-03 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium had thicker and broader leaves thanplants of the selection 93-03.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium had broader and smaller spathes thanplants of the selection 93-03.

Plants of the new Anthurium can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Lisette, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differed fromplants of the cultivar Lisette in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium had broader leaves than plants of thecultivar Lisette.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium had broader and larger spathes thanplants of the cultivar Lisette.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium and the cultivar Lisette differed inspathe color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Anthurium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Anthurium.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of the cultivar Pink Giantthat was about three years old.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet comprises a close-upview of a typical inflorescence of ‘Pink Giant’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof a typical inflorescence of ‘Pink Giant’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of the upper surface of a typical mature leaf of ‘Pink Giant’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe three-year old plants grown in17-cm containers in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, in a glass greenhousewith an average day temperature of 25° C. and an average nighttemperature of 19° C.

Botanical classification: Anthurium andreanum cultivar Pink Giant.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection codenumber 92-2, not patented.

Male parent.—Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection codenumber 93-03, not patented.

Propagation:

Method.—By meristem culture.

Time to develop roots on a meristem-cultured plant.—Summer: About 70days at 24° C. Winter: About 84 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Strong fleshy roots.

Plant description:

Plant shape.—Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit,inverted triangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.—Freely clumping, bushy and dense growth habit. Appropriatefor 17 to 35-cm containers. Vigorous.

Plant height.—About 90 to 110 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 95 cm.

Crop time.—About 10 months are usually required from planting of youngplants to finished plants in a 17-cm container.

Foliage description.—Quantity per plant: About 80. Length: About 25 to45 cm. Width: About 15 to 25 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Apiculate. Base:Roughly auriculate; lobes not overlapping. Margin: Entire. Texture:Leather; glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Young leaves, uppersurface: Between 144A and 147A. Young leaves, lower surface: 146C.Mature leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A. Mature leaves, lowersurface: 146B. Venation, upper surface: 146A. Venation, lower surface:145A. Petiole: Length: About 50 to 60 cm. Color: 144A. Geniculum length:About 3 to 5 cm. Geniculum color: 144A.

Inflorescence description:

Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above and beyondthe foliage. Flowering structures, arise from leaf axils. Freely andcontinuous flowering year-round; typically more than 25 inflorescencesper plant at one time.

Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about six weeks underwinter conditions and about three months under summer conditions;persistent.

Spathe.—Length: About 18 to 23 cm. Width: About 15 to 18 cm. Shape:Cordate. Apex: Aristate to mucronulate. Base: Auriculate; lobes notoverlapping. Margin: Entire. Texture: Leathery; glabrous; slightblistering. Color: When opening, front and back surfaces: 144A; glossy.As spathes develop, spathes are green and pink. Fully developed, frontsurface: 50B; fading to lighter than 50B with subsequent development;glossy. Fully opened, back surface: 51B; glossy.

Spadix.—Length: About 12 to 14 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape:Columnar. Cross section: Rounded. Longitudinal axis: Erect. Color:Immature: 146B. Mature: 49C.

Flowers.—Quantity per spadix: Numerous, about 400. Shape: Rounded.Diameter: About 1 mm, maximum.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Pollen color: Close to 159B. Gynoecium:Stigma shape: Ovoid.

Scape.—Length: About 60 to 80 cm. Aspect: Strong and erect. Color: 144A.

Seed/fruit.—Seed/fruit development on plants of the new Anthurium hasnot been observed to date.

Disease/pest resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the newAnthurium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pestscommon to Anthurium.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named‘Pink Giant’, as illustrated and described.